Trinity Menu

Language

TCD Botany Department Transtition Year Programme 2017/18

The Department of Botany hosts transition year students for a 4-day structured work experience programme in plant science that covers the range of activities of the Department. Students have the chance to experience what happens behind the scenes in an active research environment, working alongside technical staff, PhD students and professional scientific researchers. In addition to working at the Trinity Botanic Gardens, students have the chance to extract DNA in the molecular laboratory; to examine plant/animal interactions; to examine seed germination and storage using the Irish endangered plant seed-bank; to measure, in the field, critical environmental parameters and to work in the internationally important Herbarium. In addition, transition year students will meet with staff and attend presentations. Students seeking further information should contact their transition year coordinator.

What is plant science?

Plant science is the scientific study of plants. These studies are pursued in the field, in the botanic garden and in laboratories. Plants range from the largest forest trees to single-celled algae of fresh and marine waters. The study of plants is of vital importance; they are the source of the food we eat, the oxygen we breathe, most of the medicines we use, and are core to the understanding of the processes of global climate change. Dealing with the threats from global climate change will be one of the biggest challenges of this century. Human manipulation of plants in the future will need to provide food and energy for an expanding human population whilst conserving the biodiversity of living organisms and integrity of habitats.